Judge grants Jack Smith request to dismiss Jan. 6 charges against Trump, appeal dropped in Florida docs case
Trump says lawfare against him was a 'political hijacking,' but says he 'persevered against all odds, and WON'
A federal judge has dismissed the charges against President-elect Donald Trump in the Washington, D.C., case related to the January 6 Capitol breach. The decision came after Special Counsel Jack Smith requested the dismissal earlier on Monday.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan stated, “The Government has moved to dismiss the Superseding Indictment without prejudice. Defendant does not oppose the Motion…and the court will grant it.”
Smith also withdrew his appeal in the classified documents case against Trump. That case had been dismissed in July by federal Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unlawful.
These actions come after Smith indicated earlier this month, following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, that he would begin winding down his investigations. The filing appeared on the Department of Justice’s docket Monday afternoon.
Previously, Smith had requested the cancellation of all deadlines in the D.C. election interference case against Trump, signaling his intention to reevaluate the case's future. While the request was expected, it fell short of fully dismissing the charges. Smith’s team had committed to providing a status update on December 2.
Trump has consistently pleaded not guilty to all charges in both cases and has mounted a legal defense based on presidential immunity. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Trump, ruling that he was immune from prosecution for official acts undertaken as president. This decision forced Smith to issue a new indictment, to which Trump also pleaded not guilty. Trump’s legal team has argued that the charges should be dropped, citing Smith’s alleged unlawful appointment.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s spokesman and incoming White House communications director, celebrated the DOJ’s decision as a victory. “The American people re-elected President Trump with a clear mandate to Make America Great Again,” Cheung said. “This decision ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump and represents a triumph for the rule of law. We are ready to move past this political weaponization of justice and unite the country.”
Smith is expected to step down as special counsel before Trump assumes office.
Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the cases against him baseless and politically motivated. “These cases are empty, lawless, and should never have been pursued,” Trump wrote. “Over $100 million in taxpayer dollars has been wasted on the Democrats’ efforts to target me. This is unprecedented in our country’s history.”
He also criticized state prosecutors, naming Fani Willis, Nathan Wade, Letitia James, and Alvin Bragg, accusing them of political bias and misconduct. Trump alleged that these cases were part of a broader campaign to undermine him.
“This was a political hijacking, a low point in our nation’s history,” Trump declared. “Yet, I overcame the odds and prevailed. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”